𝑰𝑵𝑶𝑪𝑯𝑰 𝑵𝑶𝑯𝑨𝑹𝑨 :: Dauntless

20. DISOBEDIENCE

Inochi with her recently formed, highly unstable squad rushed to Konoha, where things were looking pretty grim, especially for the Uchiha who was left behind.

Itachi was in shock and freaking out, as his only companion to stop the coup just committed suicide in front of him. He spent the night near the waterfall thinking about all he had been through with Shisui, all the memories he had with the person who was not only his friend but a true older brother.

The next day Itachi came back home to a sleeping Sasuke. Finding relief in the quietness, Itachi reclined to his futon and let himself rest for a bit. He was sure he had gone crazy, as he had just moments ago burned down a whole hectare full of trees with his fireball jutsu out of frustration.

-" It's okay, it's fine. I can manage this by myself" The barely 14 year old Uchiha, who had always been reluctant to ask for help, muttered to himself. He was unable to calm himself, as millions of thoughts swirled in his mind about the coup and how to stop it. As he was twitching in vexation, he heard a knock on the door which made him jump up.

- "Itachi, are you home? Open up!!" The knocks started getting aggressive. Itachi realised that it would be the best if he kept his guard up.

Before Itachi could reach them, the people knocking at the door had welcomed themselves into the house. Itachi looked at their faces and could tell that they were not there just for a chit chat.

- "We need to talk to you, come out" One of the guys said in the rudest tone possible. Itachi only walked up to them while glaring at the speaker.

- "There were two people who didn't show up at yesterday's assembly" The guy went straight to his point.

- "Why didn't you come?" Another guy spoke, demanding an answer from Itachi's.

Itachi didn't answer for a second. He knew that any reply could lead to a fight and thus he needed to be careful.

- "I understand. I shall be more careful hereafter" Itachi bowed ever so slightly "Now I'm going to have to ask you to leave"

- "Is that so.." The first guy sighed at the polite reply underlined with contempt. "But before that, we'd like to ask you a bit more about something. It's about Shisui Uchiha, who died after throwing himself into the Nakano River last night"

Itachi shot up his eyes to look at the speaker. He was confused as to how the news spread to the villagers so quickly, as no one else had seen Shisui jumping off into the river except himself. It usually took someone's two to three days continuous absence, especially for ANBU shinobi who are habituated with being absent for months in order to carry out a mission, to be reported as missing but Shisui's news was available in a matter of hours.

- "We, the police force have decided to launch an all out investigation" The second guy spoke.

- "Investigation?!" Itachi's question was genuine. "Why an all out investigation if it was a suicide? For a suicide only a medium, if not a basic, range of investigation should be appropriate."

The first guy took out a note and handed it out to Itachi.

- "This is the will Shisui left"

Itachi took the note and read it:

-- I have grown tired of the duty. As it is, the Uchiha clan has no future, Neither do I.... I can no longer follow the "path"--

- "The most talented of our clan, feared as Shisui the Teleporter... He was a man who took on any mission for the sake of the clan. Its hard to believe that someone like that would kill himself, leaving this behind"

Itachi did not reply as he went over the note again and again while trying to remain as calm as possible. Any stray moves could lead to a fight which would harm not only him, but also Sasuke who could wake up due to the ruckus created.